Kalari Art

Yuma/Yaama! 

My name is LaToya and I’m a proud Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri woman - my grandmother is Ngunnawal from Yass, and my grandfather is Wiradjuri from Cowra, both small country towns Central West NSW. I was born on Wiradjuri Country in Cowra, grew up on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra and I now reside on beautiful Dharawal Country in Wollongong NSW; my connections extend across Wiradjuri, Ngunnawal and Dharawal Countries.

I started painting in 2017 after I was diagnosed with Epilepsy. Painting has been therapeutic and has helped me in many ways by keeping my mind focused and relaxed, also motivating me to expand my art and establish my business, Kalari Art.

My art represents the strong, continuing connections and unique relationships that I have with my country, land and community, and the respect that I have for my culture and traditions. I get my inspiration from my surroundings, recreating elements of Country and telling stories through symbolic representation. I also draw inspirations from my ancestors who have walked this land before us, and who have managed and maintained this land for tens of thousands of years. 

I specialise in commission and custom paintings (including art workshops), and personalised items such as shoes, handbags, name signs, clocks and platter boards. 

I have painted several commission artworks for organisational Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) designs, and commission artworks for organisational branding/marketing for NAIDOC and other significant Indigenous dates. I have also designed a vinyl mural wall in the Maternity Unit at The Canberra Hospital.